This study of mysticism in Hebrew Gematria
is dedicated in the loving memory of Mr. Paul Sakash, may he
rest in peace.

The Story Of A Lost Soul

Recently a young man aged nineteen came to
work in my division. He was not Jewish. Shortly after his arrival
he was removed from my division by another supervisor. When he
came to work, only a few minutes were required to size him up.
According to him he had been in our field for more than two years.
No problem. His immediate supervisor had less experience in the
field but followed directions well, provided quality work, interacted
well with his fellow workers, was appreciated and respected by
management.

Now this young man IS NOT typical of most
youth that I have worked with. We have other young adults working
with us that have not exhibited his know-it-all attitudes, his
inappropriate assertiveness, his objections to directives and
his contemptuous demeanor. Several days with this individual
was like a stone in the shoe. It was difficult and uncomfortable.

When studying for this week's parsha thoughts
grasped my mind. 'What would have happened to our glorious Mishkon
had Hashem employed such rebellious, obtrusive individuals to
prepare and construct the Mishkon?'

"And all wise hearted among you shall
come and make everything that Hashem has commanded." Exodus
35:10 We know that Hashem selected only the finest in their fields
of expertise to prepare and construct the Mishkon. Hashem selected
only the very best! Hashem selected the best spiritually and
the best mentally. We recall last week's parsha, "And said
Hashem to Moshe, stating, 'Observe! I called by name Bi Tzahl
El, Son of Oo Ree, son of Choor of Yehuda's tribe. I have filled
him with the Spirit of G-d [perfect judgment] in wisdom and in
understanding and in knowledge and in all occupations to devise
from [carefully] calculated [plans] of a metal [craftsman] in
gold and in silver and in copper and in artisan work of stones
and in artisan work of wood to metal [craft] in all occupations.
And I, behold, I have given him Aaw Haw Lee Aawv son of Ah Chee
Saw Mach from Don's tribe. And in the heart of all wise hearted
I have given wisdom and [now] they [can make as] artisans all
that I have commanded!'" Exodus 31:1-6

Dear reader, there is a decisive difference
between the young belligerent know-it-all and the individuals
that Hashem selected to prepare and fashion the Mishkon. THANK
G-D!! First according to our sages there were two groups of people,
Bi Tzahl El and Aaw Haw Lee Aawv, those who possessed wisdom
and those to whom wisdom was granted to fulfill Hashem's commands.

Holy reader, this provides us with the most
intriguing concept. There are those who now possess the wisdom,
spirituality and mentality to fulfill Hashem's commands and there
are those who Hashem will grant the wisdom, spirituality and
mentality to fulfill His commands. Then there is a third group
which consists of the unlearned represented by this young individual.

Now when we speak of the Mishkon we make reference
to the Mishkon of thousands of years ago in the BaMidbar and
today, mystically, to the Mishkon of our soul. Who is commissioned...
who is called... who is selected to carefully craft the Mishkon
of our neshama? Who do we want to formulate our internal house
of worship? We must be extremely cautious of this!! Not any religious
leader, rav, rabbi or rebbetzin, will do! Yet one must use the
best material available to learn.

Hashem has the clear and distinct advantage
here as in every situation. Hashem intuitively knows each of
us. We are at a considerable disadvantage here. Before we can
truly select a teacher we must learn everything we can about
the teacher, congregation, Bais Yaakov, institution or Yeshiva.
THAT IS NOT SO EASY since leaders normally attempt to display
and project their finer qualities when in public. Institutions
are not going to advertise their poorer areas. They are not going
to display the questionable or known unrighteous actions of their
staff. They are going to cover and hide those. THIS IS WHY WE
HAVE TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION!! Do we want to learn from religious
people who cannot contain their ANGER or their SEXUAL DESIRES
or their BUDGETS, etc.?? NO! And for reasons like this Hashem
did not select a person with these problems to construct the
Holy Mishkon. The Mishkon, its fashioning, its construction and
its holy intent were in accord with wisdom. In other words, Hashem
protected the Mishkon from absorbing indecencies and imperfection
by choosing the wise and empowering others to wisdom. Naomi,
my wife, reminds me, "Never prepare a meal when you're angry
because the food will absorb your anger." When you go to
bed at night listen to the music without words that elevates
your soul...It is in this framework that the Mishkon was fashioned.

For this and many other reasons we must be
careful.

We understand that the preparation and construction
of every part of the Mishkon, both the physical and the spiritual,
along with every holy article MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE WISE
OF HEART! Because we absorb from them. The construction of this
very special place... of this very holy place... of this place
where G-d and man meet required Vi Cawl Chaw Cham Layv, meaning
"And all wise hearted [among you]"to construct and
craft it. This means we MUST dedicate serious efforts to learn
about those who lead us. We MUST be involved with the religious
schools our children attend or plan to attend. We must consider
every policy, examine each instructor and administrator. Nothing
must be left for chance. Those who fashion, who craft the Mishkon
of our souls MUST BE THE BEST! It is not necessary for us to
invade their privacy. We can learn much from what is open...

There was an institution that Naomi and I
once supported. After making about eight contributions we heard
of questionable business practices. I simply examined the back
of each cancelled check. To my amazement many of the checks were
deposited in an account other than the one they were intended
for. I phoned the institution and requested to speak with the
accounting office. I inquired, 'What CPA reviews your accounting
practices?'

The individual responded with
a name.

I continued, 'When was the last time they
audited your procedures?'

- PAUSE - 'It's been a long
time. We are being reviewed in a few weeks... I think...'

Will the audit be made public when it is
completed?

'I doubt it,' was the response.

At that point we suspended our support
until after the audit when I phoned again.

I spoke with the same individual. I asked,
'Were all the institution's bank records audited?'

The individual said something
to the effect, 'The bank accounts the auditor was aware of.'

I questioned, 'Are there accounts that
were not audited?'

'Yes' was the reply, the head
of the institution has accounts that no one is permitted to examine.'

I asked, 'How many accounts?'

'I don't know,' was the response.

'A few or many?'

'Many!'

This led to further questions regarding
the practices of that institution... To make a long story short
the individual over accounting who was supposed to receive all
the general funds did not receive some of our contributions,
they were siphoned off into some other unaudited account that
was unknown.

Go back! Look at the cancelled checks from
your gifts, from your support, see if they are deposited in the
proper account. See if they are deposited in a variety of accounts.
It is NOT that difficult to review what is obvious! WE STOPPED
SUPPORTING THAT INSTITUTION!

Holy reader, it is our obligation to support...
to uphold... to learn with the "wise hearted [among us]."
It is the wise hearted that we need to connect with! It is the
wise hearted that we need our Mishkon carefully crafted by. It
is the wise hearted we need to absorb from. Unfortunately there
are some leaders who are crafty and skilled only in the arts
of DECEPTION AND STEALING YOUR TZEDAKAH!

Recently in a discussion of concepts from
this article, a JewishPath supporter mentioned how disgusted
he was observing several community rabbium 'drooling' over a
wealthy individual who visited the community. One of the rabbium
was from the institution we stopped supporting. Dear reader,
it is NOT DIFFICULT to observe where the crafts are... where
the skills are...and where they are not.

The Torah speaks of a good... of a wise leader...
our great forefather Yosief. The Torah records that even though
Yosief was falsely accused and sent to prison for crimes he did
not commit that Pharaoh said, "After G-d [the G-d of discernment]
informs you of all this there is no intelligence and wisdom like
yours." Genesis 41:39 In other words, 'I realize in our
brief discussion that G-d shares His wisdom with you. Since that
is the situation, who would be better qualified than you to lead
our nation through these years of prosperity and famine? What
wisdom... what spirituality... what integrity... what honor can
match yours?'

Holy reader, when Hashem shares wisdom with
you as Hashem did with our forefather Yosief there is no greater
honor that one can receive even if they are made Viceroy of the
greatest nation on earth as Yosief was! Dear reader, when Hashem
gives you a pupil, a student, a class, a congregation or an institution
of students to share your wisdom with, that is of the highest
honor. You in your position are charged with fashioning the Mishkon
of the neshama of each student of the future. DON'T SCREW IT
UP as the above mentioned leader has...

We see many, many Gematria threads interwoven
through the Gematria of 156.

The Gematria of Yosief is 156.

Yosief156 = Pey = 80 Samech = 60 Vav = 6 Yud = 10

Ooh Hehl Mooh
Ayd, meaning the 'the Tent of Witness"
which is the focal point of Hashem's presence among us... Hashem's
presence of Wisdom, as in Judge, resides in the "Tent of
Witness" in both the physical and mystical / spiritual Mishkon.
This is evidenced by the Gematria of 156.

Hashem selected only the wise to craft the
Mishkon where His presence would dwell. We observe this in the
Gematria 156 of the words Vi Cawl Chah Cham Layv, meaning "And
all wise hearted" [among you shall come and make everything
that Hashem has commanded]." Exodus 35:10 Here, dear reader,
Hashem has charged only the wise of heart to craft. The rest
of us are charged to support their efforts! Now, who are we supporting?
Are we supporting an institution because of its leaders' charm?
Are we supporting a rabbi because he drools over us like molasses?
Are we supporting someone or some place because of our sinful
guilt? Are we contributing to a congregation because we want
the most prominent edifices in our community, in our state...?
Why? Why?!! Why are we supporting those who we support? Are we
the wise or the crafty? Do we care? Will we investigate?

Two weeks ago in parshas Tezaveh while discussing
the article entitled, "Perfect Oil That Illuminates Torah"
we stated, "We MUST be careful not to use {i.e.,
receive} light from oil which has been processed, which has had
sediments screened from it. That oil is NOT suitable to illuminate
Torah!! The sediments inhibit the spiritual flow. For example,
I know of a rabbi who is very charming and warm and has a great
deal of charisma. Yet, the good that he does is spoiled because
of the sediments which are his fiery, uncontrolled temper. Learning
from a person like this is like planting weeds with your vegetables.
While you will get vegetables, you will also get problems. It
is better to find a teacher without sediments / weeds."

In this week's parsha the word wisdom constantly
occurs when discussing the fashioners of the Mishkon. The idea
of giving a terumah offering frequently occurs also in support
of the wise efforts of the fashioners. Both creating and supporting
work in conjunction. Both are very necessary. Yet there is a
PROBLEM. The problem is when the crafty sweet talkers gather
support and the wise go without support. THERE CANNOT BE A BALANCE
BETWEEN THE TWO! We must be careful to support the works that
Hashem has commanded NOT MAN!! Parshas Vayakel guides us in the
proper patterns to accomplish these goals in accordance with
the Torah.

Each year about this time we remind our readership
that our staff has prepared a guide to selecting a school for
our children. This guide is intended to shake us a bit, to cause
us to take a close look at the institutions and staff that our
children learn in / with. The same principles from this guide
show us what institutions we should avoid supporting.

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